Business Builders

Navigating Your Way to Internet Success – Top 5 Do It Yourself Mistakes

If there is a common thread to this series, the overwhelming theme would be – your website is an integral part of your marketing plan, and your Internet marketing plan should increase your bottom line. If you take the time to plan and effectively execute, a successful return on investment will be the reward.

When you’ve invested the time and money, there is no choice – failure is not an option. To try and limit the first timers out there from going through the growing pains of “Do It Yourself Web Design,” we’re compiling a Top 10 List. In this first installment we’ll go over some of the most common mistakes do-it-yourselfers may encounter on the road to Internet enlightenment.

1. Why Do It Yourself?

The number one mistake for the DIY web designer is just that – they think they can do it themselves. What is the number one reason for that? You’re most likely risking your online business image to save a few bucks. What may initially look like significant savings, winds up costing your additional time, labor, headaches….you get the point. Sure as heckfire you will be spending lots more time trying to navigate the potential minefields all by your lonesome, than with the help of a professional at the helm. Time is money right? If you’re a tinker, go nuts. But if you are looking to generate new business, leave it up to the professionals.

 2. Do You Know Your Audience?

May sound simple, but when you really look at the DIY sites out there it will become painfully clear. People make the common mistake of including elements of design they think are special, or funny, or informative – without ever have considered who will be viewing the website. A successful website strategy begins with identifying your target market and learning as much as you can about them. Who will visit my site? How will they learn what we provide? What are their buying habits?….the list goes on, and we could point out countless specific errors. The point is, don’t design a site for you and your circle. Design a website that caters to your intended audience. Nobody cares about you, or your website. They came to the site because they need to solve a problem, have their questions answered, or purchase your services/products. Make it easy for them to do so.

3.Tell Me What You Do - In 10 Seconds or Less

Sounds easy, right? Go ahead and try. Bet it takes many more words than I as your potential customer care to hear. I’ll tune out by the 3rd time your telling me how good your customer service is. Clear and concise, that should be how your message is relayed. This also leads back to the #2 mistake – nobody cares about your site, just tell me how you can help me…quickly. Or I am gone. Make sure your website tells the consumer what it is you do, and how you can fix their problems – how it benefits them to purchase your services or product. Spare me the superfluous BS and talk benefits.

4. Too Much Fluff, or Stuff

If I were to visit your website, how long would it take to purchase your product? How do I contact you? Do I have to listen to that awful music before even seeing your website and how your services can benefit me?

Lots of these design elements can lead to delays in accessing the information people are really looking for – the reason they visited your site in the first place. You built it, they came; now why are you making it so difficult for them to stay and take the next step? Some common turn offs: too much Flash, too many pictures, too much text, not enough text, no focal point on the page. Lose the cheesy intro music, cut down on the Flash, and would you please make it easy on yourself to ring the cash register. The dance is over; the visitor is already at your site – time to close the deal. Meaning, give them answers – not more questions. Keep it simple, not in terms of appearance necessarily, but in regards to navigation. This brings us to our 5th most common mistake of the DIY web designer.

 5. Where You Headed Magellan?

Poor navigation is one of the biggest turn offs to website visitors. Navigation must be simple and efficient for your site to perform at its best. It may be true - in the words of J Peterman – getting lost is the best way to go someplace you’ve never been. But, in website terms, as a visitor, I should never get lost. Next time you’re cruising the Internet take notice of how easy it is to navigate certain sites. Pay special attention to where the navigation links (Home, About Us, Contact Us…etc) direct you. How are they arranged? Was it easy or cumbersome to click around and find answers? There’s a multitude of ways to screw up navigation, again it harks back to a previously discussed error – know your audience. Are your Nav links arranged to best represent your company, or your product/services? Should the order of the links be based on your needs, or the needs of your visitors? Know your audience. Then direct them to water and make them drink.

Tags: Web Design